Early Intervention Services in California

Developed by California Map to Inclusive Child Care

WestEd Center for Child & Family Studiesin collaboration with

California Department of Developmental ServicesUpdated to reflect changes in state law, 2009

California Map to Inclusive Child Care is funded by the California Department of Education, Child Development Division, with a portion of the federal

Child Care Development Fund Quality Improvement Allocation

A Brief Overview ofCalifornia’s Early Start

A Brief Overview ofCalifornia’s Early Start

California Map to Inclusive Child Care

Conditions for Use of This Presentation

This PowerPointTM and accompanying notes were developed by the California Map to Inclusive Child Care Project for use in training and educational settings.

This document was reviewed and approved by the California Department of Education, Child Development Division, as well as the Special Education Division and Department of Developmental Services, when appropriate.

The information regarding the laws and regulations were accurate at the time of distribution (updated in 2009).

Modification of the content is not permitted. Local information may be used as a supplement, but shall not be represented as part of the document.

Users are free to duplicate this material in its entirety, with appropriate credit, for educational purposes only.

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Intent of This Overview

To assist early care and education providers in understanding the Early Start early intervention system:

when a child in their care, birth to age three years of age, has an identified disability

when they have concerns that a child in their care, birth to age three years of age, might have a disability, developmental delay or established risk condition with a high probability of causing a delay or disability (updated 2009)

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California law since 1980

Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act in 1982

California’s History of Serving Infants and Toddlers

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Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

Federal legislation mandates special education for all eligible children

IDEA Part B: services for children with disabilities ages three through twenty-one

IDEA Part C: services for children birth to three years of age

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Early Start is California’s

early intervention service system under Part C

of IDEA

Early Start = Part C

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Early Start seeks to promote and enhance a coordinated, family-focused service system for

infants and toddlers from birth to age three years with a significant developmental delay, a disability or an established risk condition with a high probability of causing a delay or disability.

2009 update

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Early Start is Designed to:

Provide a system of referral and assessment that results in individualized services

supports infants and toddlers and their families within their community

Be family-focused by keeping families informed about services for their child

supporting families and including them as collaborative decision makers

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Early Start Administration

The California Department of Developmental Services (DDS) is the lead agency for overall administration of Early Start.

DDS collaborates with the California Department of Education, Special Education Division, in the provision of services for some children.

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Eligibility Criteria The age at the time of the initial referral will be the age for

consideration of eligibility.

A 33% developmental delay in one developmental area before

24 months of age, or

At 24 months of age or older, either a delay of 50 percent in

one developmental area or a 33 percent delay in two or more

developmental areas.

An established risk condition with a high probability of

causing a delay or disability 2009 update

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New Prevention Program

A child who is not eligible for Early Start services from the regional center is eligible under a new prevention program for at-risk babies if their genetic, medical, developmental, or environmental history is predicative of a substantially greater risk for developmental disability than that for the general population.

This program will provide intake, assessment, case management, and referral to generic agencies.

2009 update

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Early Start Services

Are designed to meet needs of each infant or toddler and needs of the family

Are provided in “natural environments”

Are provided at no cost to families by qualified personnel (although private insurance must be used for medical services) 2009 update

Include transition to appropriate services at three years of age

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Natural Environment

Any setting where typically developing children of a similar chronological age are found

Includes home, neighborhood, child care, preschool, parks, birthday parties, informal gatherings of family and friends, etc.

A “Natural Environment” is more than a location. It is a way of approaching service.

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A Natural Environment

a location where this child would go if he did not have a disability

where other children go who do not have disabilities

in a part of the community where children and families without disabilities spend time when they are not being treated or tested for illness or health issues

a location where people usually go because they have disabilities or medical issues

a location that was chosen because it had specialized equipment

a location that was chosen because it was convenient for specialists who work with the child

Is Is Not

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Early Start Services can Include:

Assistive technology devices/services

Audiology services Family training,

counseling, home visits Some health services Medical services for

diagnosis and evaluation Nursing services Nutrition services Occupational therapy

Physical therapy Psychological services Service coordination Special instruction Social work services Transportation services Speech and language

services Vision services Respite Others as determined by

the IFSP Team

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Family Involvement

Families are an integral part of evaluation and assessment

Families participate in Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) development

Early Start services support families and help them meet the special needs of their infants or toddlers

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Early Start Family Resource Centers (FRCs)

Over 50 FRCs in California receive funding to provide parent-to-parent support to families

FRCs are primarily staffed by parents who have children with special needs

Services are provided in a nonclinical, family-centered atmosphere

Child care providers can also access libraries at FRCs

California Map to Inclusive Child Care

Family Resource Centers

Support the emotional and informational needs of families

Provide referral information and outreach to underserved populations

Support child find activities and family/professional collaborative activities

Assist families with transition Provide support services and resources in many

languages Are culturally responsive to the needs of families

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Parents’ Rights

Parents have rights and protections to ensure that early intervention services are provided to their children:

in a manner appropriate to their needs

in consideration of family concerns

in compliance with state and federal statutes

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Mediation and Due Process

Parents have the right to request a mediation and due process hearing or file a complaint in Early Start if they have a disagreement with a regional center or LEA about:

identification

evaluation

assessment

placement of their child

provision of appropriate early intervention services

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Early Start Looks Different in Each Community.

Why? History

Local decision-making

Locally available resources

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Because Early Start (Part C) applies only to a child under three years of age, the law requires the family to be informed about the transition that will occur when the child turns three years of age

Transition services are intended to support and prepare parents and their child to exit Early Start at three years of age

Transition at Three Years of Age

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Transition Options

Special education preschool under Part B

and/or

Ongoing regional center services

and/or

Community options Child care Private preschool or Head Start Remaining at home with the family Other unique options in a community

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Transitions

For more information, see the PowerPoint™ presentation in this series entitled

“Transition in Early Childhood at Age Three for Children with Special Needs”

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For More Information Websites

Map to Inclusive Child Care: www.CAInclusiveChildCare/Map

Early Start: www.dds.ca.gov/EarlyStart/ Other: http://idea.ed.gov, http://www.ideapartnership.org/

Early Childhood Special Education Handbooks available through CDE Press, the California Department of Education’s publisher: www.cde.ca.gov/re/pn/rc/ap/pubcat.aspx

Early Start Resources distributes Early Start products at no cost and maintains an extensive early intervention library: www.wested.org/cd/cpei